Display device



Dec. 8,1959

G. a. LARSON 2,916,156

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed July 15, 1957 INVENTOR. GEOEGE' 6 1,419.90

BY YW.

Arrazwzrs:

DISPLAY DEVICE George G. Larson, Manhattan Beach, Calif., assignor to Paper Mate Manufacturing Company, Culver City, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application July 15, 1957, Serial No. 672,035

7 Claims. (Cl. 211-69) This invention relates to display devices and more particularly to a display stand by means of which articles to be sold in a store may be very effectively displayed for inspection by customers passing through the store, or looking into a show window, yet which restrains unauthorized or undesired removal of articles from the display stand.

It is highly desirable with many classes of articles, when placed on sale in retail stores, that they be arranged on a display device so that each individual article is brought into full view. This is desirable, not only because such a display of the goods is more likely to attract the attention of the customers and thus aid in selling the goods, but because it enables the purchaser or salesman to select a particular type of article, color, etc., without the necessity of handling the whole or a portion of the entire lot. On the other hand, because the display may frequently be unattended or in a remote part of the store, it is also desirable that the articles be not easily removed from the display device except by the salesman or other authorized person.

Generally stated, the present invention is directed to a display device comprising a series of revolubly supported racks capable of mounting writing instruments and other small articles in grouped relation for display, each of the racks being provided with pilfer-resistant means including pivotally mounted means for holding the articles on the racks and releasable means carried by the pivotally mounted means for retaining the latter in holding position, thereby preventing unauthorized removal of the articles from the racks. The device described herein is intended for use primarily as a display stand and may be placed in a show window, upon a counter or in any position desired where it may be seen and articles supported thereby inspected. In a preferred form, each of the display racks includes a support ledge adapted to support one end of the articles being displayed and pivoted locking arms arranged to encircle an opposite end portion of such articles. Release members normally act to prevent independent pivotal movements of the locking arms, but are disengageable so that the locking arms may be pivoted away from the articles being displayed, permitting their removal or repositioning, etc.

It is a primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a display device which is pleasing in appearance which may hold for display a considerable number of articles all capable of being brought into full view and which is so constructed so as to be to all intents and purposes pilfer-proof, yet may readily be opened without a key by authorized personnel.

It is another object of this invention to provide a display device of the character described in which a series of display racks may be mounted for revoluble movements about a vertical standard.

Another object of the present invention is to make provisions on the display device for supporting the lower end of articles to be displayed and for encircling the upper end of such articles with pilfer-resistant means adapted to prevent undesired removal of an article from the display device, such pilfer-resistant means being capable of ready disengagement by authorized personnel to permit removal or positioning of an article for display.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and draw: ings in which:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of a display device embodying the invention, such display device including a plurality of display racks;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in end elevation of one of the display racks of Fig. 1 showing one form of pilfer-resistant means for use therewith;

Fig. 3 is a like view showing a different positioning of the parts;

Fig. 4 is a like view showing the pilfer-resistant parts in position to permit removal of goods being displayed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed view in perspective of the pilfer-resistant means of Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section along the lines VI--VI of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a View like Fig. 5 of a modified form of pilfer-resistant means.

With reference more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that an exemplary display stand comprises a base 10 supporting a vertically rising standard 12. Revolubly mounted on the standard are a plurality of display racks, in the present instance, three racks including a lower rack 14, an intermediate rack 16 and a top rack 18. It is to be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific number of display racks illustrated.

Each of the display racks is preferably provided with at least two sides or display faces for displaying articles and is revolubly mounted on the standard by means of tubular sections or hubs 20, 21 which also function to space the display racks a desired vertical distance apart, as shown. In the illustrated apparatus, the display racks are of roughly triangular or polygonal cross-section, pro viding inclined sides or display faces 22, each provided with a support ledge 24 adapted to support the lower end of articles being displayed. Preferably, the support ledges 24 are provided with suitable means positioning the display articles at a predetermined spaced distance apart. For example, apertures 26 are provided in rack 18 to receive the lower ends of writing instruments 28 displayed thereon, whereas shallow pockets 30 are provided on rack 14 to receive packaged refills for such writing instruments. If desired, additional means such as the toothed bars or spacing racks 32 may be provided for positioning and aligning the articles on display, and additional article-supporting means such as the pockets 34 may be mounted on the ends 23 of the rack.

Selectively movable pilfer-resistant means are provided, such means being normally in a holding position with respect to the upper end portions of the articles being displayed, to prevent their undesired removal from the display racks. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, such means comprises a pair of locking arms 36, 38, pivotally mounted in the upper portion of a rack, each arm being adapted (in a lower pivoted position) to retentively receive or encircle the upper ends 40 of writing instruments or other articles being displaced on a display face of the rack. As is best seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the locking arms may be advantageously another but are positioned in the same horizontal plane relative to the standard of the display rack, for example as shown in Fig. 2.

In accordance with the invention, the locking arms are retained in holding position adjacent the displayed articles by selectively movable release means or release member provided at each end of a display rack and each release member normally engaging both of the locking arms to prevent joint or independent pivotal movements. Only the release member at one end of the display device is shown because the release member at the other end is of identical construction. In the preferred embodiments of Figs. 1 to 6, each release member comprises a simple slide element 46 having a cylindrical end portion 48 slidably retained on one of the locking arms and a planar portion 50 in tangential relation to the cylindrical portion 48 and adapted to slidably overlie and engage the other of the locking arms. Preferably each slide element also includes one or more depending tabs or extensions 52 adapted to facilitate imparting sliding movement thereto.

In the use of the display device just described, each slide element at each end of the device is moved out of engagement with at least one of the locking arms, as illustrated in sequence in Figs. 2 to 4, and the looking arms pivoted upwardly into the position of Fig. 4. Dis- I play articles such as writing instruments, packaged refills, etc. may now be supportingly positioned on the ledges 24, as desired, and the locking arms pivoted to their normal holding positions as illustrated in Fig. 3. The slide elements can now be returned to the looking position shown in Fig. 2, in which position they act to hold the locking arms in parallel aligned relationship in substantially the same horizontal plane, thereby preventing independent pivotal movements of the arms. It will be understood that the lateral spacing of the hinge portions 42, 44 plus the engagement of the ends of the slide elements outwardly a suflicient distance to encompass portions of each of the arms 36 and 38, eflectively prevents pivoted movements of either locking arm about its pivot axis. As a result, the display articles are firmly held in desired position by the lower ledge 24 and by the locking arm so that undesired or unauthorized removal of the articles from the racks is not easily accomplished.

The present display stand may be placed on the counter in stores or in any other place in which the articles may be sold. Any prospective customer, at his or her leisure, may consider and select an article of desired price, type, color, etc. The fact that the device eliminates the necessity of personal salesmanship in some respects provides distinct advantages; the customer can make a selection in conformity with his or her own taste rather than in accordance with a salespersons preferences. The customer is not likely to perceive the means of removing an article without advice from the salesperson, particularly as the slide elements 46 may be arranged to operate in different manners on different devices. For example, by positioning both cylindrical portions 48 of the slide elements on the same locking arm, the slide elements would have to be moved in the same direction in order to release the locking arms for pivotal movements. In contrast, a positioning of the cylindrical portions on opposite locking arms would necessitate movements of the slide elements in opposite directions. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the display devices are to all interests and purposes pilfer-resistant, if not pilfer-proof. While a slide arrangement of the release members has been shown and described in connection with a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that other types of release members may be employed in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principle of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims. For example, Fig. 7 illustrates a type of release member 56 in which a pivoted operation is employed. In this form of the invention, one end of the release member may be loosely clamped to one of the locking arms as by the rivet 58. Preferably a slotted portion 60 is also provided to facilitate outward pivotal movement of the release member 56, in the direction of the arrow 62. An opposite end of the release member may be formed as a spring clamp member adapted to resiliently engage both end portions of the locking bars to hold them in parallel alignment in the manner previously described.

Although each of the racks illustrated is shown provided with twooppositely directed display faces, racks having three faces in planes 120 to each other or even four faces at to each other can be similarly equipped with pilfer-resistant means. Releasable locking means of the form shown in Fig. 7 can be used on these multifaced racks or, whenever the end portions of adjacent locking bars (adjacent their respective pivotal or hinge portions) are in alignment when in holding position, the slide-type release means of Figs. 2 to 5 may be used.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention relates, many additional constructions and widely divergent embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves; the disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

I claim:

1. A display device for writing instruments and the like, comprising: a rack having two oppositely directed display faces, each adapted to receive and support a plurality of articles in substantially vertical, side-by-side relation; a locking arm having inwardly turned hinge portions pivotally mounted in the rack, said locking arm being normally in article-holding position with said locking arm engaging articles on one of, said display faces; a second locking arm having inwardly turned hinge portions mounted in the rack adjacent the hinge portions of the first locking arm, said second locking arm being normally in article-holding position with said locking arm engaging articles on the other of said display faces; and a selectively movable release member carired by one of said arms adjacent its hinge portion and normally engaging the other arm to prevent pivotal movement of both said arms out of article-holding position, said release member being selectively movable to release said engagement and permit pivotal movement of said arms and removal of articles.

2. A display device for Writing instruments and the like as stated in claim 1 wherein hinge portions of both locking arms lie in a common horizontal plane when both arms are in holding position and said release member is slidably connected to one of said arms and movable in said plane to engage the other of said arms.

3. In a display device including two oppositely directed display sides, each side having means adapted to support the lower end of articles being displayed; pilferresistant means arranged to retain the upper end of each of articles being displayed to thereby prevent their undesired removal from the display device, comprising; a first locking arm mounted for pivotal movement adjacent one side of said display device upon hinge portions journalled in said display device, a second locking arm supported for pivotal movement adjacent the other side of said display device upon hinge portions journalled in said display device, the hinge portions of said first locking arm being spaced from but in the same horizontal plane as the hinge portions of said second locking arm, and a release member normally engaging a hinge portion of both said first and second locking arms and adapted to hold said locking arms in aligned relation in said horizontal plane, said release member being movable out of engagement with at least one of said hinge portions for free independent pivotal movement of said locking arms, whereby removal or positioning of articles for display is facilitated by pivotal movements of said locking arms.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said release member includes a cylindrical portion engaging one of said locking arms and a planar portion slidably engaging in movement-restraining relation the other of said locking arms.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said releasing member comprises a spring clip pivoted on one of said looking arms and having means to graspingly engage the other of said locking arms.

6. A display device for elongated articles comprising: a display body having a plurality of display faces; means on said display body to support in spaced relation a plurality of articles for display at said display faces; holding means for locking the articles at each display face and comprising a locking arm to retain against movement one end portion of each elongated article, said locking arms for said display faces having pivotal mountings in the display body about axes lying in adjacent relation; and means carried by one locking arm adjacent its pivotal mounting selectively engageable with the adjacent locking arm to restrain both of said locking arms against movement about their pivotal mountings.

7. A display device for writing instruments comprising: a display body having two oppositely directed display faces, each adapted to receive and support a plurality of writing instruments for display; a holding means for writing instruments on each display face, said holding means having pivotal mountings on said body for movement about parallel axes into a holding position to retain said writing instruments at said faces and into a release position for selective removal of said writing instruments, said pivotal mountings being in adjacent relation; and means on one of the holding means, selectively movable adjacent the pivotal mountings, to restrain both of said holding means against pivotal movement out of holding position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,996 Bunnell Mar. 3, 1903 1,032,820 Dykeman July 16, 1912 1,227,965 Sherman May 29, 1917 1,342,517 Tyson June 8, 1920 1,355,604 Hubert Oct. 12, 1920 1,687,136 Myers Oct. 9, 1928 1,757,600 Sprowle May 6, 1930 1,951,255 Parker Mar. 13, 1934 2,086,234 Neidhart July 6, 1937 2,593,402 Aitchison et a1. Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,253 Great Britain of 1899 

